Disability Debrief: explore disability around the world

Disability Debrief

By Peter Torres Fremlin and friends.

A disability lens on world news, with resources from 160+ countries.

Our weekly newsletter keeps you informed, and original writing by disabled people will make you laugh, cry and take action.

From Ancient Egypt to artificial intelligence, learn how disability shapes our changing world.

Sign-up:

“A must-read.”

Jason Strother, Lens15 Media

“It’s brilliant.”

Ettie Bailey-King, Fighting Talk

“There's something to learn from every edition.”

Stephen Thompson, Institute of Development Studies

“I read the newsletter religiously”

Robert Kingett, author and essayist

“A pleasure to read.”

Alice Wong, Disability Visibility Project

“The best thing that lands in my inbox.”

David Curtis, PAfID

“Unique and essential”

Hervé Bernard, Humanity & Inclusion

“I'm a huge fan.”

Niamh Ní Hoireabhaird, journalist and advocate

“A wonderful newsletter.”

Dan Oshinsky, Inbox Collective

“Always the best thing in my inbox.”

Tom Palmer, CBM Global's Inclusion Advisory Group

“Great work.”

Tiffany Yu, author of The Anti-Ableist Manifesto

“The only email I open.”

Shani Dhanda, Consultant, Broadcaster and Author

“A source of inspiration for me.”

Rachel Kolb, Writer

“A wonderful resource.”

Haben Girma, disability rights lawyer

“The Disability Debrief empowers leaders across the world”

Rosangela Berman Bieler, disability advocate

“The best global disability update that I'm aware of”

Jane Franklin, British Council

“Strong and unflinching storytelling.”

Marcie Roth, World Institute on Disability

“A very useful resource.”

Tom Shakespeare, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

“I have been continually amazed by Disability Debrief.”

Nu, Revival Disability India

“I am an avid reader of your newsletter - it is incredible!”

Erica Brody, Disability Equity & Inclusion Strategist, Google

“Awesome. The best newsletter I receive.”

Pieter Bossink, Australia Awards Cambodia

“I am an enormous fan.”

Erin Cook, author of Dari Mulut ke Mulut

“An amazing hub of information on disability at a global scale.”

Luanjiao Aggie Hu, The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy

“I rely on it.”

Andrew Leland, author of The Country of the Blind

“Often funny, sometimes disturbing, always insightful.”

Amira Saied, researcher

“A wonderful read.”

Akwe Amosu, Symposium on Strength and Solidarity for Human Rights

“Excellent and encyclopaedic.”

Kevin Gotkin, Crip News

“By far the best and most comprehensive newsletter on disability issues out there.”

Kamil Goungor, disabled activist and travel blogger.

“If you want authentic stuff, then subscribe to Peter's writing.”

Fredrick Ouko, ADD International

“I can't work without it.”

Catherine Hyde Townsend, Ford Foundation

“A revolution in disability information.”

Mosharraf Hossain, Global Inclusion Consulting

“I love the Debrief: great information, great humour and always something to learn.”

Karen Andrae, Consultant

“Disability Debrief filled a gap in our sector.”

Penny Innes, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

“An invaluable resource for the disability community.”

Cara Yar Khan, international disability rights advisor

“Disability Debrief is fantastic!”

John Pring, Disability News Service

“Always a good read.”

Andrew Pulrang, Disability Thinking Weekly

“I read every newsletter with great satisfaction.”

Dragana Ciric Milovanovic, Disability Rights International

“It shapes my own work and helps me hone my thinking.”

Radoš Keravica, Bradford Institute for Health Research

“A brilliant and invaluable resource”.

Emma Shaw, Community and Impact at Tilting the Lens

“I always find excellent topics and new ideas to learn from.”

Marion Steff, European Disability Forum

“Such a brilliant resource!”

Sarah Bell, University of Exeter

“The Debrief gets stuff nobody else does.”

Lucy Marie Richardson, Disability and Child Protection Specialist

“I love the depth and humanity in your writing”.

Mary Doyle, Disability Equity and Inclusion Consultant

“Very informative and I eagerly look forward to every issue!”

Priti Salian, Journalist and creator of Reframing Disability

“It's beneficial to me and everyone I share it with.”

Ahmed Ghanem, UNICEF

“A great resource”

Hezzy Smith, Harvard Law School Project on Disability

“Creating powerful counter-narratives in the face of structural ableism.”

Catalina Devandas, Executive Director of Disability Rights Fund

“Quite incredible.”

Qudsiya Naqui, lawyer and disability justice activist

“It makes me think, reimagine, or join the dots every time.”

Sarah Wadley, policy practitioner

“I am incredibly grateful to the Debrief for broadening my horizons”

Polly Meeks, independent researcher

“The Debrief is an essential document for the world.”

Tanmoy Goswami, creator of Sanity

“Topics you literally won't read anywhere else.”

Tina Lee, editor-in-chief of Unbias the News

“My favourite newsletter”

Virpi Mesiäislehto, consultant and researcher

“A great compendium of disability issues.”

Alexander Ogheneruemu, Disability Issues Blogger and Deaf Educator

“Gives me encouragement to keep going, to remember that I am not alone”

Peter Ogik, Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism, Uganda

“I can’t recommend it highly enough.”

Larissa Burke, Advisor on gender equality, disability and social inclusion

“I'm in awe of how comprehensive, thoughtful and readable Peter's newsletter is!”

Jen Bokoff, Disability Rights Fund

“Incredibly well-researched and makes me hope for a better future.”

Jodi Ettenberg, Curious about Everything

Articles

Fight against normality

Protests, sign languages, and curated disability news from 42 countries

05 Nov 2025

A photo of a female mannequin who is strapped to a stretcher and wearing a hospital gown, at a protest.

“This should not be happening”

Lessons on how backsliding democracy curtails disability rights

29 Oct 2025

A digital illustration of three figures on the Széchenyi Chain Bridge near Buda Castle, with rain washing away all the colours.

The United Nations isn't doing enough on disability

A five-year reform made important steps but progress is “extremely slow”

23 Oct 2025

A photograph of delegates in a large meeting room. In focus in the foreground, a Black man with locs is looking directly at the camera with a look of scepticism.

“You have to do something”

Reflecting on leadership after leaving the advocacy frontlines

15 Oct 2025

A color pencil illustration of two women with albinism, one inside a bus and the other outside, each holding their palm to the bus window.

Working like a dog

Barriers for assistance dogs, and curated disability news from 41 countries

08 Oct 2025

A chainsaw to disability rights

How Argentina’s far-right government is attacking disability benefits and the disability movement is fighting back

01 Oct 2025

A photo of a walker being held in the air in front of the Argentine National Congress.

Ability to reimagine ourselves

An open call for science fiction, breathing together, and more from the mailbag

24 Sep 2025

A digital illustration depicting a futuristic city, with cars and wheelchairs flying in front of tall buildings.

Get set for independence

Why I left the rehab hospital more disabled than when I arrived

17 Sep 2025

Illustration of a young white woman (Rachel), standing precariously between a set of parallel bars, supported by a therapist with hands on her waist.

Asking for forgiveness

Hamburg signs “sorry”, and a tour of the latest news from 40+ countries

10 Sep 2025

An old black-and-white-photo shows an instructor with a long white coat leaning over a boy, as they both mouth a word.

Greatest opportunity to learn

Navigating power, relationships, hostile doorknobs, and ordinary human failings

03 Sep 2025